Uma análise das teleconsultorias assíncronas em saúde auditiva do Núcleo de Telessaúde do Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

Purpose: To identify the profile of asynchronous hearing health teleconsulting at the Scientific-Technical Center for Telehealth in Rio Grande do Norte (RN). Methods: This study is retrospective and descriptive. Teleconsulting records from January 2015 to December 2019 on the telehealth platform of the Telehealth Center of RN were analyzed. The teleconsultations were filtered and categorized by two speech-language therapists regarding the applicant’s state of origin, gender and profession, theme and objective of the question. Results: Among the teleconsultations carried out in the period, the ones regarding the hearing health area were included in this study. In decreasing order of frequency, the requesting professionals were: community health agents, speech-language therapists, endemic disease control agents, doctors, nurses, public health agents, nursing technicians and assistants and others. As for the objectives of teleconsulting, from higher to lower frequency, were identified questions about: conduct, evaluation, treatment, relations among factors, etiologies, prevention, symptoms, implementation, access to the health system and others. Concerning the themes, in descending order, were observed questions about hearing loss, hearing aid devices, tinnitus, otitis, school health program, otoacoustic emissions, otalgia, labyrinthitis and tympanic perforation. Conclusion: Asynchronous teleconsulting on hearing health was more frequent on female applicants, community health agents and speech-language therapists, concerning the theme of hearing loss and hearing aid devices, to make decisions for conducts and evaluation in the health area hearing.